Two youngsters pounced upon an Sub-Inspector in Thakurganj, snatched his service cap and vroomed away on their high-end bike.
Call it embarrassing, hilarious, a mockery of the police alertness or whatever, a shellshocked cop kept standing numb, knowing not what to do -- to chase them or
call for fellow help on the wireless?

Finally, he chose the latter and the message was flashed -- ”Two youths have just escaped with 'P cap' (police cap) of a sub-inspector. Check them immediately”.

The message put the duty cops on alert right from Thakurganj on Friday to the direction of the vanishing youngsters. The sneak-thief act has left city cops half shy half angry. They don’t really know how to respond to it.

Now, over 24 hours have passed but the police have yet to track down the P-cap snatchers. This has made other police officials wonder about the motive of the cap theft.

A source said, “The incident took place when a sub-inspector (SI) was standing on the roadside in a relaxed mood on Friday morning. The two youths, who were standing near-by, suddenly pounced on the SI and took away his cap”.

He said the youths sped on a motorcycle before the SI could react to their move. The SI later passed on the message of police wireless sets in attempt to get back his cap but the youths disappeared in narrow lanes of the old city leaving embarrassment behind for the city police.

Several cops of Chowk police circle confirmed the incident but Thakurganj station officer (SO) SK Yadav feigned ignorance on the entire episode. Thakurganj police station comes under the jurisdiction of Chowk police circle.

The two youths’ daring attempt shows how the ‘Khaki’ clad is being treated now. Cops could be taken on ride by anyone,” said a senior police inspector.

“There were the days when policeman used to get so much regard. And such incident of fleeing away with the P-Cap really hurts us,” he said remembering the days when he joined the police force in 80s".